The fundraising total is a positive step forward for Priorities, which has struggled to garner financial support from Democratic donors and collected only $58,000 in January and $6.1 million in all of 2011, according to its filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The group will formally file its February financial statement with the FEC later this month.

The fundraising boost comes after President Obama last month reversed his longstanding opposition to super PACs, giving a nod to Democratic donors to begin supporting Priorities USA.

He also gave the green light to administration officials to appear at Priorities’ fundraisers to make the case for his second term, though they are forbidden by law from explicitly asking for cash. Senior White House adviser David Plouffe was the first to go out on the stump last week, speaking to prospective Priorities donors at an event in California.

Still, Priorities USA Action, which can raise and spend unlimited sums on direct electioneering and must disclose its donors, still significantly trails its Republican counterparts in campaign cash.

American Crossroads, the pro-Republican super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove, raised $51 million last year and has publicly projected netting at least $240 million through the November election.

Americans for Prosperity, a pro-Republican nonprofit group, has reportedly received a $200 million commitment from billionaire oil magnates Charles and David Koch for the 2012 campaign.

Obama’s re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee have combined raised more than $250 million so far this election cycle.

Priorities USA Action’s February fundraising numbers were first reported by The New York Times.